When Atlanta-based engineering firm Newcomb & Boyd wanted a proven and data-driven commuter program with smart technology to support its commitment to sustainability and wellness, the firm teamed up with Georgia Commute Options.
At a Glance
Client: Newcomb & Boyd
Location: Downtown Atlanta
Business: Sustainable engineering and consulting services
Size: SMB with 65+ professional engineers
WALKING THE TALK
Founded in 1923 and headquartered in the City of Atlanta, Newcomb & Boyd is a market leader in providing clients with intuitive, intentional and sustainable engineering solutions — and has completed more than 110 LEED-certified projects.
The firm’s newly renovated Atlanta office provides a space that’s comfortable, healthy and sustainable for employees and visitors. Located in the Truist Plaza Gardens Offices building, with a Walk Score of 98 out of 100, the office location provides employees the opportunity to use alternative commuting options coming to and from work, going to lunch and running errands.
To support its mission and values, Newcomb & Boyd wanted to encourage more employees to try clean commute modes like carpooling for the three days a week they’re required to be in the office. However, they needed a starting point.
The MyGCO platform eliminates the extra burden of coordination for both employees and their employers.
A NEW CARPOOL SOLUTION
Realizing traditional, hand-drawn route matching approaches were too time consuming, Newcomb & Boyd turned to Georgia Commute Options and their Worksite Advisor Brenden Thompson for a simpler solution.
Thompson and the GCO team mapped and analyzed employee home locations and commute paths, with a special focus on carpool routes. They found that many employees live within a 20-mile radius, concentrated in Fulton and Dekalb counties, making carpooling a viable option.
GCO then met with Newcomb & Boyd employees for an informational session on carpooling and other commuting alternatives. This wealth of information was paired with access to the MyGCO platform, which employees could use to search for, get matched with and message colleagues interested in sharing the ride to work. They could also use the tool to find convenient routes and nearby park-and-ride lots.
DRIVING CHANGE
Armed with both a new understanding of commute strategies and the convenience of MyGCO, Newcomb & Boyd employees are now able to secure carpool matches on their own.
“The app gives employers an approach to carpooling that’s more modern,” Thompson says. “It takes away the extra burden of coordination for both employees and their employers in a way that’s much more straightforward.”